Industrial Hygiene & Occupational health
Experiment No. 1
AIM- To carry out survey of noise level by using integrated sound level
MATERIALS REQUIRED-
1- Integrated sound level meter
2- Stopwatch
3- Data collection sheet(Observation table)
INTRODUCTION-The employees working in various occupations are exposed to various
noise levels. Due to exposure of the noise and depending upon the intensity and time duration
of exposure the employees contract the noise induced diseases. Here we will study various
control programmes of noise reduction and protection to the employees.
NOISE MONITORING-
The prescribed TLV (TWA) by ACGIH for 8 hours work shift is 90 dB. To assess the noise
hazard of the personnel, noise exposure levels were measured at various locations of IPS
Academy and tabulated in the following table.
OBSERVATION TABLE-
S.no. Location Noise level Remarks
(in dB)
RESUL-
CONTROL MEASURES-
Noise control program consists of noise reduction at:
1- Source
2- Path
3- Receiver
1-At Source-
A- Acoustic design:-
(a) Decrease energy for driving vibrating system.
(b) Change coupling between this energy and acoustical radiating system.
IPS Academy, Institute of Engineering & Science
Fire technology & Safety Engineering Department
Industrial Hygiene & Occupational health
(c) Change structure so less sound is radiating.
B- Substituting less noisy equipments.
C- Changing method of processing.
2-At Path-
A- Increase distance between source and receiver.
B- Acoustic treatment of ceiling, walls and floor to absorb sound and reduce reverberations.
C- Enclosure of noise sources.
3-At Receiver-
A- Personal protection.
B-Enclosure- isolating the worker.
C- Rotation of personnel to reduce exposure limit.
D-Change job schedules.
Control measures-
1. Design of less noisy equipments.
2. Vibration isolation mountings on equipments.
3. Reduction of external surface areas of vibrating parts.
4. Proper machine mounting can isolate the machine and reduce the transmission of vibration
to the floors and walls.
5. Substitution of less noisy machines, for example squeeze type equipment in place of drop
hammer and chemical cleaning of metals rather than high speed polishing and grinding.
Engineering controls-
1. Maintenance
2. Substitution of machine
3. Substitution of process
4. Reduction of driving force of vibrating surfaces
5. Reduction of response of vibrating surface
6. Reduction of sound radiation from vibrating surfaces
7. Reduction of sound transmission through solids
8. Reduction of sound produced by gas flow
9. Reduction of noise by reducing its transmission in air
IPS Academy, Institute of Engineering & Science
Fire technology & Safety Engineering Department
Industrial Hygiene & Occupational health
10. Isolation of operator by means of a relatively sound proof booth or cabin
Administrative control-
1. Change of production schedule
2. Change of job rotation
3. Scheduling machine operating time
4. Purchase of less noisy new machines to meet OSHA requirements
Personal hearing protection-
1. Enclosure-entire head
2. Aural inserts or ear plugs
3. Super aural protectors or canal caps
4. Circum aural protector or earmuffs
Note- NRR-(Noise reduction rating) is prescribed on the above protection equipments and
datas based on laboratory conditions. Hence while using these PPE’s for required reduction
of noise NRR should be reduced as follows:-
Earmuffs- subtract 25% from manufacturer’s NRR
Formable plugs- subtract 50% from manufacturer’s NRR
All other plugs- subtract 70% from manufacturer’s NRR
IPS Academy, Institute of Engineering & Science
Fire technology & Safety Engineering Department
